Automobile traffic signal



Aug. 5, 1924, .C. H. VOLL AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

' gvwehioc Charles H. You

Filed Sept. 5, 1-922 Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

To all whom it may concern." r T Be it known that I, CHARLES H. VOLL, acitizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city ofSeattle, in the county 8 of King and State of Washington, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Traflic Signals, of

which-the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that type of auto-- mobile trafiic signals whichemploy a box or compartment containing electric lights and in which theshape of the box combines means of this type which will make it pos-'sible to exhibit a considerable number of ya with the manner ofoperating the electriclights so as to make it possible to exhibit a.plurality of signals.

s The object of my invention is to provide .riations in signalindications so as to ndicatean intention to turn, either to the right orto the left, to stop, to back up, and if 4 this be desired, otherindications.

The particular features of my invention which I believe to be new willbe specifically pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings show my invention .in the type of constructionwhich I have at present adopted. l Figure 1- is an elevation of thedevice, one half being in section so as to show the interiorconstruction together with a diagram showing the electric circuits andthe switch for controlling the same.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the casing of my device as mo tedupon thefender of a car.

It is contemplated that such a signal as herein illustrated and mountedeither upon the fender of a car, upomthe top, or one upon the front ofthe qcarland one at the rear. In fact theposition in which the signal ismounted 18 not anytessentialart ofmy" invention. It maybe mountedwerever it is desired.

,.I;P10Vid6j;(38-Sl{lg 1 of suitable shapeto contain the parts:neoessary to divide the iinterior-theredflinto as many compartmentshlsize' as maybe necessary to and of :suc properly .show the yarioussignals desired,

. a nd e'lso of such'iiepth as to satisfactorily also at each describedmay be r omnrisnlgonn, wasnmc'ron.

anemic sroNAL.-- Applicationnled Beptenuicrt, ma. Serial 10. 588,259.

I receive the flainps which are employed for casing as shown in Figure-1, is' supposed to be a section taken just within the face plate.- Thisis shown as having a series (if compartments which divide the interiorthereof into a number of chambers, which chambers are illuminatedbwlamps, Thesepartitions are so constructe that the illumination of onechamber will not effect the illumination of another. chamber adjacentthereto- These chambers comprise a central chamber 2 "whichis ofrectangular outline and is de signed to form the stem of two arrowswhich point respectively in opposite directions. Adjacent these and ateach side is a chamber 20 which" forms the major part of the arrow head;Outside of these, at each side, is a chamber 21.'= This is formed bypartitions 22 which are placed at substantially right angles to eachother with the point at which theyjoin towards the-center; Thesepartitions outline the reentrant angle at the rear end of the arrowswhich are employed as the signal-indications.

Between the partitions 22 and the side partitions 23 which form thechamber 20.- are chambers 24. In addition to these, chambers 25 areprovided at each side of the center and side-of the chamber 2 whichforms the shaft of. the arrows. These are designedfor illuminating thebeveled triangular section of the arrow which forms the beveled shoulderof the widened rear end. This is clearly indicatedat the point 26 at theright hand side of Figure 1. Within each of if. un-111 STATES Pe -TENTamen. I A

to selectively, illuminate such lamps as are necessary for bringing outthe arrow or,

other indicating shape which may be employed The central chamber 2 isilluminated by the'lamp 30. On the same circuit therewith are the lamps31 and 32 which occupy the two chambers 20 at opposite sides of thecenter. Upon another circuit each placed upon a is placed the lam s 33,34, 35' and 36. These are designed or illuminating the rear end of thearrow which points towards the ri ht hand. A corresponding circuitcontains the lamps 4, 40, 41 and 42 which are designed for illuminatingthe corresponding portion ofthe arrow which faces in theoppositedirection or towards the left.

In addition, lamps as 43. and 44 are placed in the end of thecompartments 21 and are separate circuit and areillummatedj-"conjoinbtelg with the respective circuits just descri towhich they pertain. The lamp 44 is employed to illuminate the'smalldiamond shaped opening 45 which forms the tip of the arrows. The lamp 43would be illuminated to illuminate the diamond shaped opening 45 whichforms the 1 form a trian side 'of' Figure 1. This'same. would have itsopening of such tip of the arrow pointing tofthe right, and

- o n" of the arrow pointin to the left.

the lamp 44 to illuminate the corresponding the chamber 21 is oconsiderable size, the face plate of the casing whichjs of aquacharacter, would have an opening t erein showing only the diamond shapeportion indicated at4 at the ate also ape as to outline the composite ofthe -two arrows .which are to be illuminated. This would lar openingcommunicating with cache the chambers 26 which are illuminated by the.lamps 33, '36, 4 and 42,

respectively. f-,.-The voutline of the opening in theopaqu'e face plateis clearly indicated at theright hand side in Figure 1 and the outline othe partitions which are back of tBhis-is clearly s own at the left handend of i re 1. 4

- connection with the signal indications above given other indicationsmay be provided. As illustrated I have shown two arrows, one placedabove the arrows just downward. The opaque face plates of the casingwill be provided with openin ontliningxthese arrows, as has been inicated at the right-hand sidej'of Figure 1, and which are letteredrespectively, 5 and '50. The artitions within .the casin may be vari asdesired so that they 0 not encroach 1}!)011 the shape of the arrow. Theshape 0 the arrow is determined by the openin cut in the face plates.

In a dition to the above I have also provided a stop signal'whichconsists of the letters forming the word Stop.

as 6 and 60, placed at opposite sides of the center line. This may havethe outlines of the letters cut therein or it may have the entire faceilluminated so as to be seen from the outside and have the lettersoutlined ht hand A pointing upward, and theother placed beneath the sameand pointing This necessitates theuse of ,two. other chambers,"

these two plans is ollowed is optional. The chamber 5 is illuminated bya lamp 51 while the chamber 50 is illuminated by azlamp 52. Each ofthese is placed on its respective circuit controlled by the switch 4.chambers Sand which containthe amps 61 and 62, both of which are on thesame circuit, are each provided with one lamp.

The type 0 consists of a lever Spivoted at one end-and containing acontact member upon its face adapted when it is shifted to makeconnections with a series of bars by which the various circuits arecontrolled. These bars are arran ed in arcu'ate position, which aresuccessive y at different distances from the ivot center of the arm 8.The bars7 which orm the outer series are three in number. This is alsotrue of the n'extinner series 70. The series 71 which are necessaryinside of this are four in number, while the series 72', bein theinnermost series, are also four in num r. with the battery 3 by a commonlead 80, and the battery is connected with the lamps through a series ofleads, shown connected with the terminal 81 of the battery, each leadingto its respective sets of '-la'mps' and the lamps are connected with theterminals of the switch byjother leads'82,-83,-84, 85 and 86. The lampsconnected withthe va-. rious circuits are controlled in their. illumi-'nation by the movement of the switch lever or arm 8. This hasfourpositions of illumination. The type of signal indication which it isdesired to display is controlled by the position of the lever arm 8.

The casing 1 may case the illumination of a sin 1e face would. I

be suilicient. It is evident t at the shape of the signal indication maybe varied as desired, and also that the illumination of lights whichwould form a readable signal may be employed; in substitution for theaniows or 0 er shape of the indicating sig- M What I claim as myinvention is:

A trafiic signal-for automobiles com rising a signal box havingpartitions exten from the face thereof inwardly and divi' ing it into acentral horizontal chamber outlining the shaft of a conventional arrowright and. left chambers one at each end 0 said central chamberoutlining a convenswitch which I have shown I 75 The switch lever 8 isconnected i be single faced, that is having only one face illuminated,or it'may ins ieo

neoepve reentmnt cint which forms the re-entrant of the ang e at thewing and of a conventicnel arrow, two chambers at opposite sides of eacharrow head complementally with said arrow head outlining the Wings of aconventional arrow, and a chamber at each end having a window outliningthe tip of each arrow head, illuminating means in said chambers andmeans for selectively controlling said illuminating menus to illumi- B9nate only the central chamber and the right and left chambers or toilluminate the chembers which form an arrow pointing in eitherdirection.

.Signed at Seattle, King County, Washingt0n,'this 24th day of August,1922.

CHARLES 1i VOLL.

